East Lynne Theater Announces Food Drive to Benefit Food Closet

As usual this time of year, the award-winning Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company will be accepting nonperishable items for the Cape May Food Closet. What is needed are small cans of soup (10.5 oz.), paper towels, and toilet paper. Any canned food items will be graciously accepted, as long as they have current and future expiration dates.

Of course, items will be accepted any time, but patrons attending the Friday, Dec. 7 performance of ELTC's "Louisa May Alcott's Christmas," will save $3.00 off the already low admission price when bringing Food Closet items. This $3.00 deduction cannot be combined with any other deduction.

On closing night, Friday, December 14, ELTC will give $5.00 from every ticket sold to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) through the West Jersey Presbytery. PDA provides monetary and spiritual care for not only immediate disaster situations, but for those needing it months and years to come. Currently, members of the PDA team are helping families in Long Beach Island and further north along the Jersey shore who were hard hit by Hurricane Sandy. These teams will continue to be with these families as they rebuild their homes and their lives. Funds raised at this performance night will only be used for victims of Sandy.

There are only six performances remaining of "Louisa May Alcott's Christmas:" Sunday, Dec. 2 (with American Sign Language interpretation), and Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Dec. 7, 8, and 9, and Friday, Dec. 14 at 8:00p.m., with a 2:00p.m. matinee on Dec. 8. The location is The First Presbyterian Church of Cape May, 500 Hughes St., where the company is in residence. As usual with ELTC's Christmas shows, the company reduces its regular ticket price as an early holiday gift to its audience. Tickets are $25 for general admission; $15 for full-time students, and as always with ELTC productions, those ages twelve and under are free. Dinner/Theater packages are still available at the following restaurants: Aleathea's Restaurant, through December 8, and The Washington Inn.

"Louisa May Alcott's Christmas" includes the opening chapters of "Little Women," and the short stories "How It All Happened" and "Tessa's Surprises." These classic tales were adapted by ELTC's artistic director Gayle Stahlhuth who also performs the thirty-some characters in storytelling fashion. With the flick of a wrist, the bend of the waist, the turn of the head, and a change in the tone of voice, she brings a character to life in a heartbeat.

Season tickets for the 2013 Mainstage Productions are available and make a great Christmas present! The price is 4 shows for only $80.00, a $40 savings for single-ticket General Admission. They can be used in any way at any time. Use all 4 for one show, or see 4 different shows, and any combination in-between. There are five exciting productions planned for 2013, along with a special silent film series with live organ accompaniment. Season tickets may be purchased at the box office, through the web site, or by mailing a check to the office: 121 Fourth Ave., West Cape May, NJ 08204.

For information and reservations, call East Lynne at 884-5898 or visit the web site atwww.eastlynnetheater.org. East Lynne's season would not be possible without the support of Curran Investment Management, Aleathea's Restaurant, the NJ State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts; the NJ Dept. of State, Division of Travel and Tourism; and the generosity of many patrons.